Speaker
Description
The European Spallation Source (ESS) is transitioning from construction to commissioning, with many components delivered through in-kind contributions. This introduces challenges in verifying material compliance and ensuring suitability for radiation environments. To address this, the Spallation Physics group has established a centralised materials engineering and characterisation function. This work integrates analytical testing, materials expertise, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to verify supplied materials, support material selection, and investigate failures across ESS systems.
Material verification focuses on confirming that delivered components meet specifications, particularly where documentation is incomplete or indirect procurement routes are involved. Using elemental analysis, microstructural characterisation, and mechanical testing, deviations can be identified and corrected prior to installation, thereby reducing risks related to activation, shielding, and performance. The resulting material data also provides reliable input for neutronic calculations.
Support is further provided for material selection, with emphasis on performance under irradiation, thermal loading, and mechanical stress. Failure analysis during installation and commissioning forms another key activity; fractography and microscopy are used to identify root causes, enabling design refinement and mitigation of recurrence.
In parallel, activities are expanding towards irradiation campaigns and post-irradiation examination (PIE) to better understand material degradation and to explore lifetime extension of critical components.
This contribution demonstrates how an integrated materials engineering approach supports risk reduction and enables reliable commissioning and operation of ESS systems. Selected case studies from recent years will be presented, illustrating how complementary analytical techniques have been applied to address specific materials-related challenges across ESS systems.